Ada Russell, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 1890

This is a photograph of Ada Russell, part of a series produced by the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, likely dating to the late 19th century. It was a means of advertising their "Sweet Caporal Cigarettes." These cards weren't fine art; they were cheap ephemera, churned out for mass consumption. The image is a simple photographic print, likely mass-produced using industrial printing techniques. These were early forms of advertising, and were produced as quickly and cheaply as possible, relying on the appeal of celebrity culture to encourage customer loyalty. The card's small size and delicate paper stock speak to its disposability. It was intended to be collected, traded, and ultimately discarded. It has survived as a document of its time. Looking at this photograph, we see the convergence of celebrity, consumerism, and industrial production that defined the era. It reminds us that even the most humble objects can offer valuable insights into the social and economic forces that shaped our world.